Winch mount and plate with coupler ball adapter

ABSTRACT

A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to a support structure. The device includes a base member, fixedly attached to the support structure, having upwardly and inwardly turned flange portions and a winch-carrying member having downwardly extending edge portions. The flange portions are adapted to receive and overlap the edge portions in an engaged state, thereby securing the winch-carrying member to the base member.

United States Patent Brockelsb Au 19 1975 y g a [54] W'INCH {\{OUNT ANDPLATE WITH ZSJ'IHZS 8/1959 Selig .r .r 248/224 X 3.159368 lZ/l9h4 Ahlbin6! all. 248/225 e f/Hill; 2/1973 Hilmer r. 280/5ll X [75] Inventor:Norman D. Brockelsby, Grand Island Nebr Primary limminer-Le0 Friagliu[731 Assignee: Dutton-Lainson Company, Hastings. Armrmry. Agmm orFirm-Molinare, Allegretti, Newitt Nehr, & Witcoff [22] Filed: June 28,I974 21 1 Appl. N0; 483,929 [57] ABSTRACT A device for detuehablymounting a winch mechanism [52] Us. Ci 280/44 280/51]. 248/224. to 11support structure. The device includes a base i 248/225 member fixedlyattached to the support structure [5|] In. n 3660 1/00. 8600 1/06 havingupwardly and inwardly turned flange portions [58] Field of searchmnnn280/5 414 242/106. and a winch-carrying member having downwardly exi254/186 mtg/224 tending edge portions. The flange portions are i adaptedto receive and overlap the edge portions in an [56] References Ciedengaged state. thereby securing the Winch-carrying UNITED STATES PATENTSMasters 248/214 X member to the base member ll (Tl-aims, 5 DrawingFigures PATENTEI] AUG 1 91975 SEKZU 1 OF 2 WINCH MOUNT AND PLATE WITHCOUPLER BALL ADAPTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates generally to a mounting device and more particularly. to adevice for detachably mounting a winch mechanism on a support structure.

Powerdriven winches are presently available for a variety of purposes.For example, many boat trailers include a power-driven winch tofacilitate the withdrawal of a boat from the water.

In most instances, the winch is fixedly and rigidly attached to asupport structure. As such, use of the winch is greatly restricted, Thatis, the winch is, for all practical purposes, unavailable to do anyalternative job or serve any alternative purpose.

In addition, a power-driven winch is a relatively expensive device andshould be safely stored during periods of non-use. Where the winch isrigidly secured to the support structure, this is impossible. Forexample, during a boating excursion, the boat trailer and at tachedwinch are left at the loading area. Thus, the winch is exposed tounwarranted tampering and possible damage or destruction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a principal aspect, the present invention isa device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism on a supportstructure. The device includes primarily a base member, secured to thesupport structure, and a winchcarrying member.

The base member includes a pair of upwardly and inwardly turned flangeportions. The flange portions are angled relative to each other andconverge towards one end of the base member.

The winch-carrying member includes a pair of downwardly extending edgeportions. The flange portions of the base member are adapted to receivethe edge portions and, upon engagement, the flange and edge portionscooperatively define means for detachably securing the winch-carryingmember to the base member. More specifically, the winch-carrying memberand base member interlock as the edge portions contact the flangeportions.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device fordetachably mounting a winch mechanism to a support structure. therebypermitting alternative use and safe storage of the winch mechanism.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a winchmounting device which is easily operated and inexpensively manufactured.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become apparent in the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A preferred embodiment ofthc presentinvention will be described, in detail, with reference to the drawingwherein:

FIG. I is a partial perspective view ofa preferred ern bodiment of thepresent invention illustrating use in combination with a vehicle andboat trailer;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially cut-away side view of the preferredembodiment shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 3 taken along 4-4; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded, partially cut-away perspective view of thepreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an alternative use ofthe power-driven winch mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodimentof the present invention is shown in the drawing as a mounting device,generally designated 2, for detachably securing a winch mechanism 4 to asupport structure 6. The support structure in this specific embodimentis a boat trailer, similarly designated 6, having a forwardly extendingtongue 8. The boat trailer 6 is utilized to transport a boat I0. Theboat trailer 6 is towed by a vehicle I2 having a hitch, generallydesignated 14.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hitch I4 includes a draft bar 16 andhitch pin 18. The draft bar I6 is rigidly fastened to the frame (notshown) of the vehicle I2, such as by welding. The hitch pin 18 includesa ball head 20 and a shaft or shank 22 affixed to the draft bar 16.

The power-driven winch mechanism 4 is a standard, battery-powered winch.Winches of this type are presently manufactured and marketed by theButton- Lainson Company of Hastings, Neb.

The winch 4 includes a housing, generally designated 23, a power supply24, an operation lever 26, a directional switch 27 and a power-drivenspool 28. A cable or rope 30 is wound upon the spool 28. In operation,the cable 30 is attached to the boat I0 and the spool 28 is actuated todraw the boat I0 from the water and onto the trailer 6.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom portion of the housing 23 defines amounting plate 32. The mounting plate 32 includes a pair of openings 34(only one is shown) adapted to receive mounting bolts 36.

The mounting device 2 includes a winch-carrying member 38 and a basemember 40. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, themounting device also includes a substantially planar, plate member 42.The plate member 42 includes a pair of upwardly extending, semi-circulartabs 43 located near the sides of a central portion 44, a keyhole-shapedslot 45 at one end 46, and, opposite the keyholeshaped slot 46, alongitudinally extending, elongated slot 47. The keyhole shaped slot 45is adapted to receive and engage in the hitch pin 18. thereby securingthe trailer 6 to the vehiele I2.

As shown, the base member 40 and plate member 42 are rigidly secured tothe tongue 8 of the trailer 6 by a bolt 48 and locking nut 49. The bolt48 engages the vertically aligned openings 54 in the bottom and topfaces of the tongue 8, the elongated slot 47 in the plate member 42 anda centrally-located opening in the base member 40, placing the roundhead of the bolt 48 at the bottom opening of tongue 8 and the lockingnut 49 at the top of base member 40.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the base member 40 includes a substantiallyplanar, substantially trapezoidal portion 56 having a pair of angled,converging edges, generally designated 58. The edges 58 converge towardsa first end 60 of the base member 40 and trapezoidal portion 56.

A pair of flange portions 52 extend upwardly and inwardly from the edges58. More particularly, the flange portions 52 are substantiallyL-shaped, having a first leg section 64 extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom the edge 58 and a second leg section 66 extending upwardly andinwardly from the first leg section 64. The leg sections 64, 66 haveinterior surfaces 65, 67, respectively. Extending along the edges 58,the flange portions 52 also converge towards the first end 60 of thebase member 40.

The trapezoidal mounting portion 56 also includes a slot 68 and a pairof rectangularly-shaped apertures 70. The slot 68 extends longitudinallyfrom the first end 60 towards the opening 50. The apertures 70 areopposite the first end 60 and extend transversely from the edges 58.

In an assembled state. the tabs 43 of the plate mem' her 42 engage theapertures 70 of the base member 40. The engagement substantiallystrengthens the structure of the mounting device 2.

Similarly, the winch-carrying member 38 includes a substantially planar,substantially trapezoidal mounting portion 72, defining a narrow end 74.In the preferred embodiment shown, the mounting portion 72 issubstantially equivalent, in size and shape, to the trapezoidal mountingportion 56 of the base member 40. The mounting portion 72 includes alongitudinally extending slot 76 near the narrow end 74 and, oppositetherefrom, a pair of transversely extending slots 78.

In the assembled state, the slot 78 substantially aligns with theopenings 34 in the housing 23 and thereby receives bolts 36 to securethe winch 4 to the winchcarrying member 38. The bolts 36 are threaded toengage nuts 80. As shown, the winch 4 is secured such that thepower-driven spool 28 effectively draws or pulls the cable from thenarrow end 74 of the winchcarrying member 38 towards the slots 78.

The winch-carrying member 38 also includes a pair of edge portions 82extending downwardly and outwardly from the converging edges 84 of themounting portion 72. Each edge portion 82 is substantially planar,elongated and rectangular and defines an upper surface 88 and endsurface 90.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the L-shaped flange portions 52 of thebase member are adapted to re ceive, in the direction of arrow 86, theedge portions 82 of the winch-carrying member 38. As the narrow end 74of the winch-carrying member 38 approaches and substantially aligns withthe first end 60 of the base member 40, the upper surface 88 and endsurface 90 of the edge portion 82 substantially engage the interiorsurface 67 of the second leg section 66 and the interior surface 65 ofthe first leg section 64. respectively. In this engaged state, shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. the L- shaped flange portions 52 enclose and the secondleg portions 66 overlap at least part of the edge portions 82, therebydetachably securing the winch-carrying member 38 to the base member 40.As shown, the edge portions 82 and second leg sections 66 substantiallyalign in the engaged state.

it should be noted that operation of the winch 4 can in no way work adisengagement or unlocking of the base member 40 and winch-carryingmember 38. Indeed, operation of the winch 4 under heavy load conditionscan only tighten the engagement of the base and winch-carrying members40, 38.

In the engaged or interlocking state, the elongated slots 68, 76 of thebase member 40 and winch-carrying member 38, respectively, substantiallyalign. Thus, the winch-carrying member 38 can be physically locked, bymeans of a padlock (not shown), to the base member 40.

An alternative use of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. A rope92 is used to fasten the base member 40 and plate member 42 to thesupport structure 6 (not shown).

Utilization of the mounting device 2 permits a single use winchmechanism 4 to be readily detached from the support structure 6 andsafely stored during periods of non-use. Further, where several winchmechanisms were previously used, only a single winch is now required.Base members 40 of similar design are simply fixedly attached to thevarious support structures 6 and the winch mechanism 4 is transported tothe place of need.

A single preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein. It should be understood, however, that various changesand modifications can be made without departing from the true scope andspirit of the present invention. as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to a ball hitchstructure comprising, in combination:

a hitch plate including a forward slot for cooperation with the ballhitch structure;

a base member having a first end and a pair of upwardly and inwardlyturned flange portions, said flange portions converging towards saidfirst end;

means for securing said base member to said hitch plate;

a winch-carrying member having a pair of downwardly extending edgeportions, said flange portions being adapted to receive said edgeportions, said flange and edge portions cooperating in an engaged state;and

means for securing said winch mechanism to said winch-carrying member,whereby said winch mechanism is detachably secured to said base memberin said engaged state.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base member includes asubstantially trapezoidal mounting portion defining a pair of anglededges, said flange portions joining said mounting portion along saidangled edges.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange portions aresubstantially L-shaped.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange portions include afirst upwardly and outwardly extending leg section and a second upwardlyand inwardly extending leg section.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said edge portions aresubstantially planar, downwardly and outwardly extending flanges.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said edge portionssubstantially engage and align with said second leg sections of saidflange portions in said engaged state, said second leg sectionsoverlapping at least part of said edge portions to interlock said basemember and said winch-carrying member.

7. A device as claimed in claim I wherein said plate member includes akeyhole-shaped opening adapted to receive said ball hitch.

8. A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to a supportstructure comprising, in combination:

a base member having a first end and a pair of upwardly and inwardlyturned substantially L-shaped flange portions, said flange portionsconverging towards said first end;

means for securing said base member to said support structure;

a winch-carrying member having a pair of downwardly extending edgeportions, said flange portions being adapted to receive said edgeportions, said flange and edge portions cooperating in an engaged state;and

means for securing said winch mechanism to said winch-carrying member.whereby said winch mechanism is detachably secured to said supportstructure in said engaged state.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said base member includes asubstantially trapezoidal mounting portion defining a pair of anglededges. said flange portions joining said mounting portion along saidangled edges.

10. A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to a supportstructure comprising. in combination:

a base member having a first end and a pair of upwardly and inwardlyturned flange portions, each flange portion including a first upwardlyand outwardly extending leg section and a second upwardly and inwardlyextending leg section. said flange portions converging towards saidfirst end;

means for securing said base member to said support structure;

a winch-carrying member having a pair of downwardly extending edgeportions, said flange portions being adapted to receive said edgeportions, said flange and edge portions cooperating in an engaged stateto define means for securing said winch-carrying member to said basemember; and

means for securing said winch mechanism to said winch-carrying member,whereby said winch mechanism is detachably secured to said supportstructure in said engaged state.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said base member includes asubstantially trapezoidal mounting portion defining a pair of anglededges, said flange portions joining said mounting portion along saidangled edges.

1. A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to a ball hitchstructure comprising, in combination: a hitch plate including a forwardslot for cooperation with the ball hitch structure; a base member havinga first end and a pair of upwArdly and inwardly turned flange portions,said flange portions converging towards said first end; means forsecuring said base member to said hitch plate; a winch-carrying memberhaving a pair of downwardly extending edge portions, said flangeportions being adapted to receive said edge portions, said flange andedge portions cooperating in an engaged state; and means for securingsaid winch mechanism to said winch-carrying member, whereby said winchmechanism is detachably secured to said base member in said engagedstate.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base memberincludes a substantially trapezoidal mounting portion defining a pair ofangled edges, said flange portions joining said mounting portion alongsaid angled edges.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flangeportions are substantially L-shaped.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein said flange portions include a first upwardly and outwardlyextending leg section and a second upwardly and inwardly extending legsection.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said edge portionsare substantially planar, downwardly and outwardly extending flanges. 6.A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said edge portions substantiallyengage and align with said second leg sections of said flange portionsin said engaged state, said second leg sections overlapping at leastpart of said edge portions to interlock said base member and saidwinch-carrying member.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidplate member includes a keyhole-shaped opening adapted to receive saidball hitch.
 8. A device for detachably mounting a winch mechanism to asupport structure comprising, in combination: a base member having afirst end and a pair of upwardly and inwardly turned substantiallyL-shaped flange portions, said flange portions converging towards saidfirst end; means for securing said base member to said supportstructure; a winch-carrying member having a pair of downwardly extendingedge portions, said flange portions being adapted to receive said edgeportions, said flange and edge portions cooperating in an engaged state;and means for securing said winch mechanism to said winch-carryingmember, whereby said winch mechanism is detachably secured to saidsupport structure in said engaged state.
 9. A device as claimed in claim8 wherein said base member includes a substantially trapezoidal mountingportion defining a pair of angled edges, said flange portions joiningsaid mounting portion along said angled edges.
 10. A device fordetachably mounting a winch mechanism to a support structure comprising,in combination: a base member having a first end and a pair of upwardlyand inwardly turned flange portions, each flange portion including afirst upwardly and outwardly extending leg section and a second upwardlyand inwardly extending leg section, said flange portions convergingtowards said first end; means for securing said base member to saidsupport structure; a winch-carrying member having a pair of downwardlyextending edge portions, said flange portions being adapted to receivesaid edge portions, said flange and edge portions cooperating in anengaged state to define means for securing said winch-carrying member tosaid base member; and means for securing said winch mechanism to saidwinch-carrying member, whereby said winch mechanism is detachablysecured to said support structure in said engaged state.
 11. A device asclaimed in claim 10 wherein said base member includes a substantiallytrapezoidal mounting portion defining a pair of angled edges, saidflange portions joining said mounting portion along said angled edges.